Control apparatus.



K. A. SIMMON.

CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATIION FILED NOV. 6, 1914.

1,217,514. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

mvamon Ha I"! A. 6 m y BY 1 man I ATTORNEY TTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL A. SIMMON, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Application filed November 6, 1914:. Serial No. 870,612.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL A. SIMMoN, a citizen of the United. States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus, and it has special reference to liquid rheostats such as are employed for governing the operation of induction motors.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and compact structure of the above-indicated character which shall be durable and inexpensive in construction and which shall be particularly adapted to dissipate the heat generated within the rheostat under load conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a liquid rheostat that normally contains a body of electrolyte in which movable electrodes may be immersed and to provide means for continuously supplying electrolyte thereto at substantially the surface level of said body of electrolyte in such manner that a relatively violent, radial flow of the surface liquid is effected.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for adequately cooling the excess electrolyte that overflows from the rheostat and for returning the same to a main containing reservoir from which it is supplied to the rheostat.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a liquid rheostat constructed in accordance with my invention.

neferring to the drawing, the apparatus shown comprises a main reservoir 1 above which is disposed a liquid rheostat tank 2 having a plurality of movable electrodes 3 which are adapted through suitable means (not shown) to be raised and lowered in position, whereby the effective resistance of the apparatus may be varied as desired.

The reservoir 1 is provided with a plurality of laterally disposed pipes or passages 5 which are adapted to conduct a cooling medium, such as air, that is forced therethrough by means of a fan or blower 6, the latter being operated by a motor 7 of any common type that is located outside of the reservoir.

The rheostat tank 2 is preferably cylindrical in form, and its upper portion 9 is of suflicient size to permit the electrodes 3 to be raised out of contact with a body of electrolyte 10 which normally fills the tank 2 to a predetermined level. At a height corre sponding to the electrolyte level within the tank 2 are a plurality of side overflow openings 11 through which the excess of electrolyte is discharged outwardly into a surrounding cooling chamber 12 that is provided with a helically disposed partition 13. The partition 13 is preferably perforated, whereby the electrolyte which overflows into the helical passage provided thereby is permitted to drip through from one convolution of the partition to the one directly below it. A vent pipe 1 1 is employed at the top of the chamber 12 for permitting the escape of steam and vapors. The lower end of the passage is provided with a plate 15 for de fleeting the electrolyte into the reservoir 1 through an opening 15 while an opening 16 and a casing 17 serve to direct the flow of the cooling medium which passes through the pipes 5 into the helical passage referred to, whereby the medium is caused to circulate upwardly for the purpose of cooling the electrolyte within the chamber 12.

A pump 18 is located within the reservoir 1 and is driven by the motor 7 through a shaft 19 in a suitable manner. Associated with the pump 18 is a pipe or tube 20 that projects upwardly through the bottom wall 21 of the rheostat tank 2 to a height corresponding to the normal electrolyte level and that of the outlet openings 11. The pipe 20 is centrally disposed in the tank 2, and the electrolyte, which is forced up through said pipe, is delivered to the tank at substantially the surface level of the body of electrolyte contained therein. Inasmuch as the pump 18 is operated continuously, a continuous supply of electrolyte is delivered to the tank, whereby the relatively hot surface liquid is moved radially outwardly at a rapid rate and is discharged through the outlets 11 into the cooling chamber 12.

By reason of the construction set forth, it is evident that the hottest portion of the body of electrolyte which, of course, is at the top, is continuously circulated and caused to overflow, after which it is materially cooled in its passage back to the reservoir 1.

Obviously, my invention is not restricted to the specific structural details, arrangement and location of parts hereinbefore set forth and, therefore, I desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a. liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank, electrodes for said tank, and a body of electrolyte normally contained therein, of centrally disposed means for supplying electrolyte to said tank at substantially the surface level of said electrolyte.

2. in a liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank, electrodes for said tank, and a body of electrolyte normally contained therein, of means for supplying electrolyte to said tank and for effecting substantially radial flow of the surface liquid of said body of electrolyte.

3. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank containing electrodes, a body of electrolyte contained therein, and means for discharging electrolyte when the level thereof exceeds a predetermined height, of centrally disposed means for continuously supplying electrolyte at substantially the normal level of said body of electrolyte, whereby a circulation of the surface liquid is effected.

4. 111 a liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank, and a centrally disposed hollow member projecting upwardly therein, of movable electrodes disposed in. said tank, and means for suplying electrolyte to said tank through said member.

5. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank, and a centrally disposed hollow member projecting upwardly therein, of means for continuously forcing electrolyte upwardly through said member to maintain a substantially constant level thereof within said tank and to effect a circulation thereof, and movable electrodes adapted to be immersed in said electrolyte.

6. 111 a liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank having a side outlet at a predetermined height, and a supply pipe projecting upwardly within said tank to a corresponding height, of means for supplying electrolyte through said pipe.

7. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a tank having an overflow outlet in the side thereof, and a centrally disposed supply pipe projecting upwardly within said tank and adapted to discharge electrolyte at a height corresponding to that of said overflow outlet, and means for continuously sup lying electrolyte to said tank through said pipe.

8. The combination with an electrolytecontaining reservoir, a liquid rheostat disposed above it and having a centrally disposed supply pipe projecting upwardly therein, of means contained within said reservoir and associated with said supply pipe for forcing electrolyte into said rheostat through said pipe.

9. The combination with an electrolytecontaining reservoir, a liquid rheostat dis- ,posed above it and having a centrally disposed supply pipe projecting upwardly therein, of a pump submerged in the electrolyte of said reservoir for continuously forcing electrolyte through said pipe and into said rheostat.

10. The combination with an electrolytecontaining reservoir, a liquid rheostat disposed above it and having a centrally disposed supply pipe projecting upwardly therein, of a pump submerged in the electrolyte of said re ervoir for continuously forcing electrolyte through said pipe and into said rheostat, a plurality of cooling pipes extending through said reservoir, a motor disposed outside of said reservoir for driving said. pump, and a fan associated with said motor for circulating a cooling medium through said cooling pipes.

11. The combination with a liquid rheostat having a side overflow opening, and means for supplying electrolyte to said rheostat, of cooling means disposed around said rheostat for receiving the electrolyte that overflows therefrom.

12. The combination with a liquid rheostat having a side overflow opening, and means for supplying electrolyte ,to said rhoostat, of a helical passage surrounding said rhcostat for receiving the electrolyte that overflows from said rheostat, and means for cooling said electrolyte.

1-3. The combination with an electrolytecontaining reservoir, and a liquid rheostat disposed above it and having a communicating passage thereto, of pumping means submerged in the electrolyte of said reservoir for continuously forcing electrolyte through said communicating passage and into said rheostat and a plurality of cooling pipes extending through said reservoir.

14-. The combination with an electrolytecontaining reservoir, and a liquid rheostat disposed above it and having a communicating passage thereto, of pumping means submerged in the electrolyte of the said reservoir for continuously forcing electrolyte through said communicating passage and into said rheostat, a plurality of cooling said rheostat for receiving the electrolyte 10 pipes extending through said reservoir, and that overflows therefrom.

means for operating said pumping means In testimony whereof, I have hereunto and for circulating a cooling medium subscribed my name this 29th day of Oct.

through said cooling pipes. 1914.

15. The combination with a liquid rheo- KARL A. SIMMON. stat having an overflow opening, and means Witnesses: for supplying electrolyte to the said rheo- A. H. CANDEE, stat, of a helical passage surrounding the B. B. HINES.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

